Banding of roofing material



Feb. 3, 1953 F. STENCIL 2,627,153

BANDING OF ROOFING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 16, 1948 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3, 1953 STENCIL 2,627,153

BANDING OF ROOFING MATERIAL Filed D60. 16, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WN &\ N WW 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 3, 1953 F STENCIL BANDING OF ROOFING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 16, 1948 Feb. 3, 1953 F. STENCIL 2,627,153

SANDING OF ROOFING MATERIAL Filed Dec. 16, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 fii av/v ggfA Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED @STATES [PATENT "OFFICE 1 11. Claims.

The presentinvention relates-to assembly -'line packaging apparatus and is concerned more particularly with a machine forapplying-fiberboard wrapping to stacks of sheet material such as-roofing shingles, after" which stitchingstaples are applied to secure the wrapper.

"Asbestos" and other-types of roofing shingles are customarily marketed in terms of area coverage.

Since shingles vary in thickness and=correspondingly by weight, the-packaging of shingles in terms which maybe translated into area coverage erequiresvariation in the "size of packages-into which they are conveniently packed. -Accordingly, where it isendeavored tosoprepare-the packaging arrangement "that three packages of shingles may cover one hundred square-*f-eetof area, it m'aybecomenecessary that thepackages diifer from one'anotheriii-respect to thequanti- 1 ties of shingles which they contain. Such variations in packaging are dictated by the established sales practices in this commodity so that a system "of packagingin order to conform withthese practices must be made adjustable 'within-limited-de- "greesof variationto accommodate differences in L quantity-of shinglesto a package. Moreover in so doing, it is highly desirable that extraordinary care and attention on thepart *of theoperator be not a'prerequisite.

"Stacks of composition shingles have ==been wrapped heretofore by simplyencircling' with a -jacketing of double-faced I cardboard applied *perimetrically so as to encircle the-slender 1i dimension of the-package whereafter "the acketing has been secured by strappingor wiring at spaced intervals. Several disadvantageous =consequences have been observed in-respect to this type ofpackaging, suchassusceptibility to loosening, tendency to'intervalbulging and-mostsignificant, a vulnerability to transverse incisin'g by the strapping or wiring elements.

It has accordingly been suggested that the jacketingmaterial be secured-by aline'ofseam stitches closely placed so as to avoid'intervening bulges and tightly wrappedbefore staple securement. is applied to? effect unity and adherence in the package component. In order to accomplish this result while stacks 'of "shingles" are gathered and advanced in a conveyor'system, such as is customary in the man'ufactureand production of this item,"there is "presented' a problem of applying the staples along a seam or overlap of the jacketing without interrupting the progressive advancement of successive packages.

The present invention proposes to accomplish a method of package'wrapping'thatis suitable 'for'enclosing stacks of composition shingleswhile ,such shingles'are advanced along a conveyorsection towards theend of producing a-satisfactory stapled package assembly that will avoid "all of the disadvantages and shortcomings Which have "been enumerated above.

- A principal object of the present invention,

therefore, is one of achieving a continuous conveyor packaging process which will afford seam stitching-securements to an enveloping wrapper at the same rate that the packaging material is required toadvance in keeping with the production line.

A further object of the present invention is to achieve an automatic conveyor type packaging apparatus in which the wrapper stitchingmachine is synchronized in respect to its staple projecting and clinching operations so as to effect its functions during intervalic rest periods which intervene between successive CORVEYOI' movements.

A still further object of the present invention is one of producing a longitudinal dimension wrapper for stacks of composition shingles and securing said wrapper along a longitudinal seam so as to avoid intermediate bulges, slackening, or shiftingoi thepackage content, such as result frormmore localized forms of securement.

Still other objects of the present invention are such as will be manifest from the disclosure and description which will be revealed during the *courseof the hereinafter following specification.

For a betterunderstandingof this invention reference will now be had to the. accompanying drawings and detailed specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding a parts throughout and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View from an uppermost forward vantage point'of a .packaging apparatus and conveyor havingincorporated therein certain features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective .view from an uppermost rearward vantage point featuring various adjustments and conveyor apparatus located at the intake extremity of a packaging machine con- 1 -veyor according to the present invention;

Fig. 3'is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through a portionof the packaging apparatus'features in Figs. 1 and 2 revealing the transverse'tensioning effect which is roduced on a package of shingles by the gravity weight roller;

=Fig. 4 is a side elevational View of a portion of the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 indicating the arrangement of the side guides, driving train, and conveyor adjustments;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational viewof the remaining fragment of the machineillustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4;

- Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view'of a portion of the-apparatus illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and is takenapproximately on line 6-5 thereof characterizing particularly the power: distribution a and motion translators;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on line 'i-l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is afragmentary perspective view of a portion of the conveyor table in which is located the wrapper flap fold-over guides as well as the stitching anvil;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken approximately on line 99 of Fig.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on line ill-ill of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail elevational view of a modified form of apparatus for achieving synchronization between a stitching machine and a conveyor.

Composition shingles are manufactured in a continuous processing apparatus until they reach a state of completion as a result of a final operation usually consisting of a cutting and trimming operation performed by a set of rotary cutting dies. They are then accumulated in stacks at the hands of conveyor assisting operators in readiness for packaging. At this point an improved machine, according to the present invention, is disposed as a sectional unit in the conveyor system so that stacks of shingles of predetermined quantity enter upon the conveyor rollers ll guided between the flaring side plates l2 and i3, Figs. 2 and 5.

The side guides l2 and i3 converge slightly so as to help center and direct the incoming stacks of shingles M, where the first significant treat- .ment which they are compelled to undergo is a height leveling regulation administered by the adjustable test probe l5 bolted as at Hi to a transverse bar I i and this serves the purpose of pushing off any excess shingles [3, Fig. 10, according to predetermined regulation which will be varied from time to time as the weight and lateral dimensions of the shingles may vary in respect to pattern and width characteristics. An attendant at this point will regard the position and functioning of the apparatus and will remove excess shingles out of the path of oncoming stacks. Also to accommodate dimensional variations the guide plates i2 and it may be predeterminedly adjusted, if it is so desired to do, by providing securement brackets i9 which may be bolted as at 2| to frame blocks 22 that extend from the angle iron side frame members 23 and 26 which support the conveyor rollers I I.

After passing the probe l5 each stack of shingles id encounters a leveling rollers 25 pivoted as at 25 in a yoke 2! integral with the short end of a lever bar 28 which functions as a third class lever, being pivotally anchored as at 29 to a rod 3| and pivotally connected as at 32 to a pair of guide plungers 53 and 3d.

The plungers 33 and 34 are housed in their related sleeves 35 and 35, see particularly Fig. 2, adjustably secured as at 3? and 38 in the longitudinal grooves 39 of a supporting bar ill which is integrated with a top plate c2 of a cupola structure, including the channels 43 and 34.

At the 'lower extremities of the cylindrical V rods 33 and 3d, they are welded to a crossbeam 55 whose opposite ends are split whereby to receive the bolting elements 46 and ll for anchoring thereto the grooving or scoring tools it? and 19. By vertically adjusting the length of the pivot rod 3| which is threaded as at 5! into the top plate 42 and check nutted thereat as at 52, the scoring tools 48 and 49 may be adjusted vertically and by locating these elements in respect to the crossbeam s5 and anchoring by the bolt elements 46 and 4?, they may be adjusted in respect to width 4 to accommodate variations in the related shingle stack dimensions.

When the shingle stacks are first placed on the conveyor rollers i I they are partially enveloped by a rectangular double-faced cardboard wrapper 53 with sides 54 and 55 extending upwardly to be engaged by the scoring tools 48 and 59, respectively. The scoring operation is accomplished by the tools 48 and 49, which are backed in this function by a pair of laterally adjustable anvil rollers 55 and 5?, power driven to rotate in conformity with the forward movement of the stacks through a driving train which will be described later. As the shingle stacks advance beyond the idler conveyor rollers Ii, they encounter a first conveyor belt 55 which is driven in a continuous even motion around the flat driving pulley 59 and the idler pulley 6|. The latter is pivoted on a transverse shaft 62 journaled in a pair of opposite bearings 53 which may be longitudinally adjusted as by the takeupscrew 54 and Wheel nut 65 to aiford stretchment regulation in the event that the conveyor belt 58 undergoes distention. It will thus be observed that when they achieve the position of the scoring tools 48 and 49, the shingle stacks M, together with their enveloping wrappers 53, receive forward impelling movement through their impingement on three sides with the belt 58 and the anvil rollers 56 and 5'1.

This forward motion is, as has been said, a continuous even advancement until the stack and wrapper assembly passes beyond the intermediate idler rollers 65, Fig. 5, riding off the foremost extremity of the belt 58 and thereupon being engaged by a pair of side belts 61 and 68. Shortly before this occurs, however, the upstanding wrapper flaps 54 and 55 encounter a pair of guide rails 69 and TI, Figs. 3, 5 and 8. These guide rails differ from each other slightly in respect to their angle of twist, or, in other words, in accordance with the rate at which they descend from their uppermost position as may be observed in Fig. 5, to their prone position as best observed in Fig. 8. Because of this difference, one of the flaps 55 is folded over ahead. of the other flap 54, assuring the completed package of noninterference between the two flaps. The aforedescribed scoring which is produced by the tools 48 and 49 dictates the precise location of the crease.

At about the time that the flaps 55 and 54 are laid over the partially prepared packaging wrapper and its contents approaches the position, Figs. 4 and 5, at which they encounter the depression disc 72, coincident with which it also is engaged by the side plates 14 and 75, see also Fig. 7. This causes the package to receive a longitudinal deflection, as best indicated in Figs. 3 and '7, which is not released until the package passes beyond the range of the side plates 74 and T5. The purpose of this deflection is to overlap the flaps 55 and 54 to a sufiicient extent before stapling them together, so that thereafter when the rectangular form is restored to the package there will be established a condition of taut encirclement by the Wrapper 53 whereby to prevent the shingles from having sufficient freedom to tend to be displaced even under conditions of shock and vibration.

The degree of fiexure which is imparted to the assembled package before stapling may be regulated by adjusting the relative position of the side plates 14 and 15 by means of the adjustment bolts 76 and Ti in their association with the stout adjustment brackets -18 'and IQ carried by the side frame channel members 8| and 82.

In order to: permit this longitudinal distortion of the package to be performed within the degrees that it is desired to do, the second con-- "veyor belt 83 is guided over'longitudinalsiderails 84 so as to yield to a limited extent as indicated by' the shallow V member Ii;*Fig. 7, "throughout a distance coincident with the particularly-"de- "scribed function. 1

' Thereafter', theconveyor belt '83 resumes its normal flat condition until it reaches the remote =-'idlerpulley86 at the discharge end 81 of the machine.

table level conveyor belt 58; the 'just described conveyor belts? is a member which functions In counterdistinction from" the first in intermittent steps ofmotion havingintervening rest intervals for a purpose which will later be understood. I Its power driven pulley 88, Fig. 4, carried on a shaft 89 receivescounter clockwise motion from a driving chain fil'which meshes with a drivensprocketwheel 92.. If,.as a result of replacement or stretchmentgthe belt 83 may vary in longitudinal dimension, .such

I variation-may be taken up by a horizontal ad- :justinent-of its idler pulley 86 by turning the hand wheel 93, which'carries with it the pulley shaft journals won a threaded anchor post '95, just as in the case of. the pulley: adjustment 53 for the earlier'described pulley BI.

Thus far the progressof the shingle packages has been described to an intermediate achievement at which the wrapper'h'as been completely encircled about the stack of shingles and at which the shingles have been longitudinally flexed soas to enable the wrapper flaps to overlap .each other to a somewhatygreater extent than would-be afforded under conditions of rectilinear disposition of the shingles.= Thebundle is now in readiness for stapling while undergoing intermittent advancement in responseto this type of driving engagement which is imparted to the bundles by the intermittent motion characteristicsof the side belts 61 and88, as well asby the table floor belt 83. From Figs. 3 and 8, it will be understood that the flaps 54 and55 are beinglheld down as a result of the prone portions of 1 the guide rails 59 and I I, and that at this time they I are resting upon an anvil rail 96- against which the securing staples may be driven to effect r clinching of their ends.

The securement staples IOI, Fig, I, are formed and applied by a commercially available machine,

generally designated I02, the specific structure of which forms .no significant part of the present invention and may be of a class such as that illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 2,194,225. In this type of apparatus a supply :spool I03 of wire,

located above the forming-and applying head I04,

the machine I02 are cyclically powered soasto effect at regularly spaced .periodic' intervals a "direct striking of a staple into the flap seam area of the flaps and against the anvil bar 96, described above. As the packages of shingle advance intermittentlypassing the stapling machine at "regularly spaced movements,"the timing arrangement is such that the staplestriking is performed during the rest interval which 'intervenesi isuccessive movements.

Accordingly, the density of I staplingalong the package scam I may :abe irregu- --*lated bythe degree of movement imparted towthe driving belt system during each intermittent advance.

- The stapling machine is acontinuous power driven device which is cycled at a regular peri- I odicity to effect a striking operation of a staple beneath it.

against a package supported at the properlevel In order to make certain, that no staples are struck' during intervals when shingle packages do not pass beneath the striking machine, a probe apparatus I I I is providedflwhich controls the trip clutch of the stapler I02,.so that 1 it may not be permitted to engage exceptwhen the probe I II is properly actuated by an under- "lying objective against which the staples may be 1 directed.

'After'the flapshavebeen stapled together (as indicated inFig. 1, the transverse pressure which had been applied against the shingles is marginally 'released, permitting the shingles to resume a fiat unflexed condition and this is the result of the side rails H2 and I I3 being adjusted so as to have greater intervening distance than that of the side rails Hi and 15, or ofwthe side rails I I4 and I I5.

As the completed packages are discharged over the power. driven belt 83, they enter upon a I conveyor line H9 ready to be taken off and stacked for shipment. It will thus beseen that in accordance with the teachings here disclosed a method and apparatus for packaging shingles may be achieved which is far superior to the I practices heretofore known for this purpose in that the enwrapment and securernentof the. ro-

' tective sheath is applied during the regular course i of travel of the shingles in a production line, the

jacketing is secured without danger of-bulging,

'incising or deformation, such as is characteristic of wire 1 and strapping securements, but most significant there is achieved ultimately a packaging dressfor commercial shingles that is stronger and more able to withstand the rigors of'rough handling during shipments whileyet displaying aesthetically pleasing lines whiclrenhance the appearance of the packages and make them more suitable 'for handlingas well as for opening after they have arrived at theirdestination.

7 "Attention will now" be givenito the powerrdisr=tribution train whereby all of the aforedescribed function performing elements of the apparatus are driven from a single powering motor and whereby there ismaintained a timed synchronisation-between all of the constituent operations. In Fig. 6 the reference numeral :I2I designates I an electric motor mounted on a bedsupport I22,

so as to be horizontally adjustable for the purb pose of taking up tension in thedriving belts I23 wherebythe pulley of motor I2I imparts rotation through a worm and gear translating unit I24 to a main distributing shaft I25.

As observed in Fig. 6, the first power take-off from the driving shaft I25 is through a driving pulley I26 which meshes with the aforedescribed ,belt I05 to drive a pulley wheel I21 that powers the stapling machine I02. At the opposite end of shaft I25 a driving sprocket I28 imparts conthrough the sprocket wheel I36.

stant rotation through a link chain I29 to. a sprocket wheel I2I of a jack shaft I32 which carries a driving sprocket I33 meshing with the .chain I34 to impart rotation to a shaft I35 The shaft I35 a is-f thereby given counterclockwise rotation; as -wiewed inFig; 5, and through itsidriving sprocket I31 its. is,i.enab1ed .to..:impart similar rotation r the threaded adjustment shafts I92.

through a chain belt I38 to the driving sprocket I of the first conveyor belt 58. Bevelled gears I4I and I42 carried at opposite ends of shaft I35 mesh with spur gears 53 and I44, whereby there is imparted synchronous but opposite rotation to the shafts I45 and I46 which carry the anvil rollers 56 and 51 against which the creasing tools 48 and d9 are directed.

Intermediate its extremities the main distributing shaft I25 is provided with a crank I5I to which is pivoted a connecting rod I52, so that as the shaft I25 rotates there is imparted an oscillatory movement to a clutch I53 which produces intermittent clockwise rotation affecting the shaft I54, Figs. 5 and 6, which carries the driving sprockets I55 and IE5. Driving sprocket I52"), which is best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, meshes with a link chain SI to impart counterclockwise rotation to the driven gear 92 and hence to the conveyor belt 83, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. Driving sprocket l55 meshes with a link belt I57 and drives a jack shaft I58 through the driven gear I59. At opposite ends of the jack shafts I53 there are carried the bevelled driving gears I6I and I62 which mesh with the spurs I63 and I64 to impart synchronous but opposite rotation to the vertical shafts I65 and E66. Shaft I66, which is foremost, as viewed in these illustrations, carries a driving pulley I67 and rotates clockwise, as viewed in plan, imparting the necessary direction of intermittent movement to the driving belt 5?, while shaft i65 correspondingly powers a driving pulley (not shown) for imparting the opposite type of intermittent movement to the belt 68.

There is thus described a system in which a single power generating device coordinates several advancing and stapling operations. In order to be able to regulate the altitude adjustment of the stapling machine I62, it is preferably carried upon a base IQ! of rectangular outline through the four corners of which there extend At the upper end of each of these shafts I92, there issecured a sprocket wheel I93 and all of the sprocket wheels are encircled by a common regulating chain which meshes with their teeth, and which is indicated I94. A hand wheel I95 on any one of the screw shafts I92 rotating that shaft will, therefore, impart, through the sprocket wheels I93, corresponding rotation to the other shafts, whereby the stapling machine I92 may be parallelly raised and lowered to effect simple adjustment for accommodating variations in the thickness of the shingle stacks I 3.

A portion of the conveyor system has been designed so as to propel the shingle packages at an even regular motion and another portion of the conveyor has been arranged to step the parcels by intermittent motion, so that during the rest intervals which intervene, the stapling machine may be enabled to direct the staples to the package seam. In Fig. 11 there is illustrated another modification of apparatus for synchronizing the stitching movement with the intermittent motion of a conveyor. Here the stitching machine is generally indicated I 15 and includes a base I76 which rests upon a multiplicity of guide dowels Ill so as to insure vertical parallel movement. A counterbalancing spring I18 assists in overcoming the weight of the apparatus so as to enable the machine I75 to ride the cam surface of a cam I'i'9 carried by a power shaft I8i. Through a link I82 the stapling machine is reciprocated horizontally to ,8 and fro so as to move in the direction of the arrow 583 with each package I84 as it advances leftwardly, but to be drawn back a predetermined distance which may be the interval between the successive staples by the link I32 during the dwell which intervenes successive movements on the part of the package I34.

The stapling operation maybe accomplished while the machine I75 is moving with the package I86, after which the cam I'i9 raises the machine and the link 582 draws it back the aforedescribed predetermined step.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference to specific embodiments of contemplation, it will be understood nevertheless that numerous modifications and variations may be incorporated within its spirit or scope. Accordingly, it is not intended to be limited in an understanding of this invention to the specific language employed in the foregoing description nor to the particulars of the accompanying illustrations except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A packaging machine comprising, a first conveyor section for advancing rectangular packages containing stacks of sheet material encased in wrappers along a horizontal course of travel, a second conveyor section in alignment with said first conveyor section, a stitching apparatus located within the range of said second conveyor section for applying a series of stitching elements upon the wrappers encasing said packages, and a device located intermediate said first and second conveyor sections for compressing said packages to reduce their girth as they approach said stitching apparatus comprising op-. posed side pressure elements and a deflecting center pressure element.

2. A package stapling machine comprising a continuous conveyor system made up of first and second sections, endless belt conveyor means located in said first section having continuous motion, endless belt conveyor means located in said second section having intermittent motion, a stitching apparatus driven in timed relation with said second section belt conveyor means including mechanism for driving and clinching securement staples onto packages advanced in said second section during the rest intervals which intervene the intermittent movements of said belt conveyor thereof, and pressure ap- V paratus located between said first and second sections for transversely compressing packages advancing therethrough for thereby reducing the girth of enveloping wrappers in advance of their encounter by said stitching apparatus.

3. A package wrapping and stapling machine comprising, a horizontal conveyor system including first and second sections, package propelling meanslocated in said first, section having continuous motion, package propelling means in said second section having intermittent motion, a stitching apparatus driven in timed relation with said second section propelling means including mechanism for driving and clinching securement staples onto package wrappers during the rest interval which intervenes the intermittent movements of said second section propelling means, and pressure apparatus located between said first and second sections for compressing packages advancing therethrough for thereby reducing their girth so that their enveloping wrappers may be stitched under taut encasing condition.

4. In a package wrapper stapling machine, a linear conveyor channel adapted to advance rectangular packages partially enveloped by a single ply jacket of stiff fibrous material, a first package impelling mechanism for imparting continuous motion to said packages, a second package impelling mechanism for importing intermittent motion advancement to said packages, a wrapper stapling machine located at said second package impelling mechanism, and means comprising side pressure constricting plates cooperating with a longitudinal curvature depressing weight located intermediate said first and second package impelling mechanisms for constricting the girth of said packages in order to achieve a taut condition of encirclement by said jacket before it is secured about said packages.

5. In a stapling machine for moving packages, a horizontal conveyor channel on which are advanced rectangular packages enveloped by a single sheet wrapper, a first advancing mechanism in said conveyor for imparting continuous motion to packages, a second advancing mechanism in said conveyor for imparting intermittent motion to packages, a staple applicator associated with said second advancing mechanism and means comprising side pressure constricting plates cooperating with a longitudinal curvature depressing weight located intermediate said first and second advancing mechanisms for constricting the girth of packages as they are advanced from said first to said second mechanism in order to achieve a taut condition of the packages before said wrapper is secured.

6. In a stapling and packaging apparatus, a conveyor system for advancing assembled stacks of sheet products encased in a sheath to be stapled, a rotary power source, a power take-off apparatus associated with said source including translating mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to said conveyor system, guide elements located along the course of travel in said conveyor system for directing the ends of said sheaths into overlapping seam relation, and a stitch applicator including a rotary power takeofi apparatus driven by said source, an anvil disposed beneath the overlapping seam of said sheath, and timing means for initiating a stitch operation by said applicator during the rest interval which intervenes the intermittent movements of said conveyor system.

7. In a machine for stapling package wrappers, a first conveyor having continuous propelling motion, creasing anvils riding over successive packages as they are propelled by said first conveyor for imparting fold creases to an encircling wrapper at the precise altitudes of said packages, a second conveyor having intermittent propelling motion, a stapling machine for securing together the ends of a wrapper after folding at said creases, and power means for actuating said stapling machine during the rest intervals which intervene the intermittent propelling motions imparted by said second conveyor.

8. In a machine for applying stitching staples to the wrappers of packages, a staple forming and applying apparatus powered from a rotary source, a conveyor over which partially wrapped packages are advanced passing as they do so beneath said staple forming and applying apparatus, a base member supporting said apparatus, a set of elevation adjustment screws extending through said base, and means for regulating the elevation of said apparatus whereby to accommodate different sized packages borne by said conveyor, which comprises horizontally aligned sprockets integral with each of said adjustment screws, a sprocket chain meshing with all said sprockets, and a hand wheel associated with one of said adjustment screws whereby all are rotated in unison and whereby parallelism in elevational adjustment is maintained.

9. In a packaging machine for stacks of sheet material, a conveyor comprising a system of intermittent motion package advancing impellers, a stitching apparatus for securing together the seam ends of a wrapper encircling said stacks of sheet material, and means for longitudinally flex ing and thereby constricting the girth of said stacks of sheet material before said stitching apparatus has secured together said wrapper comprising converging side wall elements for com pressing said stacks and overridingdown pressure apparatus for directing the course of deflection of said stacks.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 including a courseway in said conveyor adjacent said flexing" and. constricting means in which table support components are shaped to conform with the deformations imparted to said stacks by said flexing and constricting means.

11'. A wrapping and wrapper stitching machine for packaging stacks of flat stock material com prising, a staple forming and applying machine supported to overiie a line of travel through which overlapping edges of a wrapper encasing a stack of said material is traveled, intermittently fed belt conveyors journalled upon vertical pivots flanking the edges of said wrapper encased fiat stock material having their innermost felt flights engaging said edges, pressure plates carried upon horizontally adjustable rods disposed behind said innermost belt flights for applying a compressive force against said stack during the time that it is passing said staple machine, the said compressive force being sufficient to efiect concavity of said stack and means comprising a support table having concavity and a weighted depressor riding over said stock for inducing said stock to assume a marginal girth diminishing curvature before reaching said staple applying machine.

FELIX STENCIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,411 Inwood et a1 Dec. 5, 1905 927,033 Flora 1. July 6, 1909 1,109,259 Sons et al Sept. 1, 1914 1,116,406 Fleischer Nov. 10, 1914 1,174,965 Brown Mar. 14, 1916 1,190,848 Batdorf July 11, 1916 1,289,497 McEwen Dec. 31, 1918 1,523,292 Rose Jan. 13,. 1925 1,856,420 Metcalf May 3, 1932 1,922,441 Kerr Aug, 15, 1933 1,974,192 Paxton Sept. 18, 1934 2,061,886 West Nov. 24, 1936 2,215,545 Demler Sept. 24, 1940 2,296,142 Campbell Sept. 15, 1942 2,380,116 Lind July 10, 1945 2,390,107 Rucklinsky Dec. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 433,687 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1933 

